101.1 FM WRIF radio station has been a staple in Detroit area for far longer than I can remember. Wiki says the station is 75 years old with the WRIF tag added in 1971! Wow. Riff Fest was located at Pine Knob. Love that we have the old name back.

The festival kicked off with bands Frame 42, Brkn Love, Tigercub, and Des Rocs at the outside stage. On the main stage Giovannie and the Hired Guns, Rival Guns, Bad Flower, Bad Omen, and I Prevail rocked out.

I got there in time for Des Rocs to take the stage and was shocked how packed it was. WRIF brings the party! If I heard right there was 15 thousand people who showed up! I didn’t see an empty seat. Every set was just one amazing show after another. Pretty shocking I never seen any of these bands play before and I own a few of the bands albums. I would go see every one of these bands when they come back through. Plenty of bands I really loved turned out to be just “OK” live. These bands just had stellar showmanship with their music was on point.

Des Rocs

Giovannie & The Hired Guns

Bad Flower

Great live show presence! And that singer Josh bending over backwards playing the guitar was beyond mystifying. You can see the bottom of his shoe soles as he is doing it.

Rival Sons

One of the bands you go and just know you will see a outstanding show.

Bad Omens

All photographers were cleared to shoot “all” bands. We were kicked out of the pit right as the show was about to start. What BS. ( Thumbs down, shit emoji, took your music off my playlist)

I Prevail

I Prevail headlined the festival. Yes they are a local band, but they just tore that stage up! Straight energy & fire! I mean they REALLY brought the FIRE! IDK how the bassist & drummer made it out of the show without a massive sunburn. One image of the bassist he looks like HellBoy with the flames coming out of his mouth.

Shockingly I have never seen the band live but I would highly suggest you catch their show when they come through your area.